Quilting frame



Oct. 22, 1929. E. s. Rom' ,732,660

QUILTING FRAME Filed March 17, 1927 5 SheetS-eet l HMM( W/ TIVEJSES E. S. ROOT QUILTING FRAME Filed March 1'7, 1927 (5 .SheetswSheet 2 Hmmm@ @i Mom/ mwm E. S. ROOT QUILTING FRAME,

Oct. 22, 1929.

Filed March 17,1927 s sheets-sheet Patented Get. 22, 1929 EMMA s. Roer, on Los Antennes, onnrronnrn oUILrIne renne Application filed Maren 17, 1927.

This invention `relates to improvements in quilting `iti-unies and lhas as its general objectto provide a frame which 4will present advantages over quilting frames `now in use.

One of the objects o'l' the `presen-t invention is to provide, in a quilting trame embodying rolls Jfrom which the lining `and coi/'er plies of the quilt is to be unwound and a roll upon which the linished quilt is to be Wound, novel means for supporting the roll from which the cover ply is to `be unwound, the means being so constructed that this roll may be readily and 4quickly adjusted `to an elevated position so as to permit of the disposal of the lilling 5 upon the lining ply lwhich.extends between the roll from which `the lining ply is to be unwound and the roll upon whieli the linished `quilt is Ato be Wound, and which supT porting means will be so constructed and ea- 2@ pable oi." `operation in `such a manner as to permitof `more readyand Arapid disposal of the lilling and its arrangement and, when the means operated to lower the roll supported thereby fto its lowered position, will 5 constitute means for tensioning the .cover -ply of the quilt being ntodueed. 4

Another object oi'the `invention is to pro videineans for 4suppor-ting the roll from which the eoverply of the quilt to be un- Wound, which means willbe so constructed that :when it is adjusted 'to bringthe said roll to its lowered position,` the confer and lining plies .of the quilt will `be maintained in parallelism while `the quilting operation is being performed. y

Another object of :the invention is to provide novel means 'for ,preventing backward rotation oi any .of the rolls of the quiltn ing frame so that the plies will beat all times 4o properly tensioned. Another object of Vthe invention is to vprovide novel means whereby tliequiltin g frame as a `.Whole may be bodily `adjusted with `respeet to its suspension means so as rto `coinpensate for increase "in Weightat one sideo'f the frame occasioned by the progressive lormat-ion ol the quilt and the `windiing ofthe quilt upon the roll upon which `it is Wound as the quilting `operation progresses.

In the accompanying drawings:

Serial No. 176,20?.

Fig. l is a View in Side elevation illustrate ing the quilting frame embodying the innen.- tion;

Fig. 2 is a top plan vie-W of the Asaid frame, a portion nl the completed quilt being broken away as also a portion of the covering for the roll upon which the completed ,quilt is to be Wound;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the frame illus: tratng the roll and suppontingmeans there for, wliie`li roll is .the one Afrom which .the Cover ply of the quilt is `to be unwound, in elevated position in dotted lines;

Fig. .Il is a vertical front to rear sectional view through the quilting frame illustrating the storage roll tor the noyer .ply in elevated position andthe manner lin wliiehtlle lilllig is to be arranged lbetween the plies;

Fig. 5 is fan end elevatiompartly in section, of the `frame andthe suspension means therefor and illustratingthemanner in yuh-,iol u frame is suspended foradjusltment ,to oom.- pensate for overfbalenng;

Fig. G is abottom plan View otono end of the frame;

F ig. 7 is a View similar to `,Figurefl illus trat-ing the storage roll for thetop ply7 the quilt in lowered position.

The quilting .trame embodying thepinyenm tion is indicated in general bythe numeral l and the trame is supportedby `an overhead suspension ineens `which Will presently specifically described.

The quilting frame comprises a pair ofside members 2 suspended by the means reifer-red to above, in parallel spaced relation with respect ,to each other, and these `Siqle anellfllers rotatably support the `three rolls oi the frame which rolls areindioated one by the numeral 3, another by the numeral 4, and the thirdby the numeral 5. AThe rolls ,3 and 5 are provided at their ends with trium-ions 6' ,which 4are journaled in the side members@ so that `the rolls are independently rotatable `between the said side members. The roll l is rotatably supported between the side membersQ `by a means whioh -Will presentlybe described. `As will presently be made eleaiyfthe roll L3 oonstitutes storage roll ior the lining 'material or ply oil the quilt; the lroll 4 constitutes .a

storage roll for the cover ply of the quilt; and, the roll 5 constitutes a take-up roll for the completed quilt. The means for supporting the roll 4 comprises a pair of arms 6 which are pivotally mounted as at 7 at one end in recesses 8 formed in the inner sides of the respective side members 2 of the quilting frame, the recesses opening through the upper sides of the side members and through the inner sides thereof and being of dimensions to preferably substantially exactly receive the respective arms 6. The trunnions at the outer ends of the roll 4, which trunnions are indicated by the numeral 9, are ournaled in openings 10 provided in the outer ends of the arms 6. "At this point it will be evident that when the arms are inthe lowered position shown in full lines in Fig. 7 of the drawings and likewise in Fig. 2, the roll 4 will be supported in a lowered position and it will likewise be observed by reference to the said Fig. 7 that the pivots for the arms 6 are located slightly' above the longitudinal axes of the rolls 3 and 5. It will likewise be evident by reference to Fig. 7 that the axis of the roll 4 is in the same vhorizontal plane as that in which the pivots 7 are located and consequently the axis of the roll 4 is slightly elevated with respect to the axes of the rolls 3 and 5. As will be evident by reference to the said Fig. 7, this. relative upward displacement of the roll 4 with respect to the rolls 3 and 5 serves to position the cover ply of the quilt in a plane parallelV to but spaced above the lining ply thereof so that duringthe quilting operation inv which the quilting stitches are run through the two plies and'through theiilling at those portions of the plies which extend between the rollsv 4 and 5, the plies occupy parallel planes and obviously this is of advantage as, if the filling has been properly laid, the quilt will be of uniform thickness throughout its entire area when it is completed. It is not required that any means be provided for supporting the arms. 6 in the elevated position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings for in such position the arms are directly vertical and theV upper edge of each arm, at the pivoted end thereof, will abut against the correspondsaid ligure.

ingl end wall of the recess" 8 as shown in the At this pointit will be understood, andparticularly by reference to Figure 4, that when the arms 6 are swung to the elevated position shown in said figure the pivots 7 for the said arms will be located forwardly of the plane occupiedby the forwardl sides of the cover ply storage roll 4 and quilt take-up-roll 5 and, inasmuch as the cover ply C is -somewhat tensioned, and extends between these rolls, there will be no tendency for the-arms 6 to swing downwardly.

Each' o f the rolls 3, 4 and 5 is provided with awrapping or cover 11 of any suitable fabric which is applied thereto and extends substantially throughout the entire length of the roll,

although in the drawings, for the sake of clearness in illustrating the roll, this fabric has been omitted except in Figures 2, 4 and 7. The purpose of the fabric covering upon each roll is to provide a means whereby, in the instance of the rolls 3 and 4, the lining and cover plies of material which go to make up the quilt may be more readily wound upon the respective rolls by temporarily and separately uniting the margin of the respective ply to the said'cover or, if it is not desired to actually unite the plies to the covers of the respective rolls, the covers constitute a friction surface which will insure of winding of the plies onto the rolls prior to arrangement of the rolls in the quilting frame of the invention. In a like manner the covering of fabric upon the roll 5 constitutes a means whereby the first finished edge of the quilt may be temporarily attached to the roll so that the quilt may be evenly and with certainty wound about the roll when the roll is rotated during the quilting operation and from time to time as the operation progresses. Preferably the rolls 3, 4 and 5 are of wood and approximately rectangular in cross-section as shown in the sectional views of the drawings, the edges being however preferably beveled. The advantage gained by forming the rolls of this contour is that the coverings 11 for the rolls will adhere frictionally thereto and there will be little likelihood of slipping of the coverings or the plies or finished quilt wound upon the rolls.

It is of course necessary that means be provided for holding the several rolls against rotation, so that the cover and lining plies of the quilt and the )artially completed quilt itself will not sag ue to unwinding of the same from the respective rolls and as the means provided for this purpos in connection with each roll is the same, a description of the means as applied to one roll will suffice for all. The said means comprises a wheel 11 which is fixed upon one of the trunnions of each of the rolls and this wheel functions in the manner of a ratchet except that it differs from the ordinary ratchet in that its teeth resembles gear teeth. A pawl indicated by the numeral 12 is mounted upon that one of the side members 2 of the frame next to which the ratchet wheels 11 are located, these ratchet wheels being arranged between the said side member of the frame and the adjacent ends of the respective rolls, and one of the pawls is of course mounted adjacent each of the said ratchet wheels. Each pawl may be conveniently formed from resilient wire material or light rod material and comprises a portion 13 which is mounted for rocking movement in an opening provided in the side member 2 parallel to the trunnions 6 of the respective roll, and this portion 13 is provided at one end with a right angularly extending arm 14 having an iniii turned end 1.5 which the purpose et' a pawl and ,designed to engage between the teeth of rthe respective `ratchet wheel 11 in the manner most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings,` when the pawl is rotatably adjusted to one position Vof adjust nient. if-Lt its other end the portion 13 is provided with a linger piece '16 which extends at right angles from the said end oi `the portion 13 and has its end overturned in an inward direction as at 1.7 to rest irictienajllyagainst the outer face of the said side member 2 of the frame. The linger piece 16 is preferably oigreater length than the inember 14; of each pawl and while the end 15 of the arm lll of each pawl is preferably rictionally in engagement with the inner side ot the said side member 2 of .the frame `and .the overturned end 17 of the linger piece 16 oi the same pawl is frictionally in engagenient with the 4out-er face of the said frame `side member so as to insure ot the pawl being held either position of adjustnient or in k other words with the end l5 of its arm let either in or out oi` engagement with the respective ratchet wheel 11, it will be understood that the pawl might be loosely mounted. The trictional engagement is hov ever of advantage inasmuch as when the pawls are so arranged and constructed, and are adjusted to position out of engagement with the respective ratchet wheels, they will be supported in such position. It will also be observed that by overturning the outer end 17 ot the linger piece 16 of each pawl, the said linger piece is sutliciently spaced irom the outer face of the side member 2 of the trame to permit of its being readily grasped for the purpose of adjusting the pawl.

Assuming that the quilting operation has progressed to the stage illustrated in Fig. 7 oi the drawings in which figure the lining ply the quilt is indicated by the reference letter L, the cover ply by the reference letter C, the filling by the reference letter F, and the quilting stitches by the letterl S, the pawl for the ratchet wheel upon the roll Llis swung to position clearino the said wheel and the roll l is swung bodily upwardly to the elevated position shown in Fig. Ll ot the drawings. At the same time the pawls for the ratchet wheels of the rolls 3 and 5 are moved to disengaged position and so much of the quilt as has been completed and which com prises the guilted portion extending between the rolls 4L and 5 in Fig. 7, is wound upon the roll 5 by rotating the said roll until the last row ot quilting stitches S is relatively close to the completed portion oi the quilt which is wound upon the said roll 5 as shown in Fig. 4 at which time the ratchet for the roll 3 is adjusted to engaging position and the roll 5 is rotated so as to tension the lining ply L by winding up a further relatively short portion of the partly completed quilt upon the said roll 5. The filling F is then arranged in suitable Iquantity upon the lining ply L which at such time is stretched taut as shown in Fig. t, and for a portion of the length of the said lining ply substantially equivalent to that illustrated in the said ligure or in other words for such portion of the length as is determined by the last line olil .quilting stitches S and a point substantially coincident with the end of the .recess 8. lllien the `filling has been evenly distributed, the arms 6 are swung downwardly so as to restore the roll l to its original lowered position and at such time the roll is manually rotated so as to tension the cover ply C and the pawl for the ratchet wheel upon this roll is then adjusted to engage the said ratchet wheel so that the roll is `held against rotation. At this time the plies L and C will be i.

under tension and the -lilling F will be more or less lcon'ipressed between the plies. The quilting p operation is then per-formed until the quilting stitches have been run substair tially to the extentshown in Fig. fr' or in other words until the last formed row of stitches is very close to the roll 4 whereupon the previously described operation is repeated.

Freni the itoregoing description of the iframe embodying the invention it will `be i seen `that the traine is most eiiicient in its operation and that quilting may be more readily, accurately, and neatly performed than .has heretofore been @possible with pre viously employed quilting frames.

An .overhead suspension means is provided for t-he quilt-ing traine embodying the invention and in the drawings the numeral 18 in dicates a trolley wire or rod upon which there issupported, by rollers 19, a. carriage 20 having .defiending plates 21 secured to its opposite sides and extending downwardly there fronneach .of these plates being provided with a :vertical longitudinally extending series oi openings 22. A beam 23 is provided with similar plates 24 bolted or otherwise secured thereto but the beam 23 is of a thickness greater than the transverse dimensions ot the carriage 2O so that the upper portions of the plates Ql overlap the lower portions 01"' the plate Z1. Bo ts 25 are secured through openings in the plates 24 and selectively through the openings 2Q, in plates 21 and in this manner vertical adjustment is provided for. The numeral 2G indica-tesa bar which is suspended by rods 27, at its ends, from the ends of the beam s3, --and the numeral 28 indicates wire loopsof inverted V-forin which at their upper or minor ends are suspended 'from eyelets 29 upontheunder side of the bar 26. The loops tlarecontinuous and are of `heavy wire but at the saine time a quality of wire possessing some degree of ltleziibility and 4the loops extend downwardly and through openings 30 tormedinrtheside members 2 of the frame Vnear the ends thereof, the portion of the wire constituting the bottom of the loop and indicated by the numeral 31, engaging in a longitudinal groove 32 formed in the under side of the said frame member 2 as best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. At this point it will be understood that after a considerable length of completed quilt has been wound upon the roll 5 the tendency will be to overbalance the frame but by bodily adjusting the frame by tilting the same, the frame may be positioned to overcome the overbalancing.

, It is to be understood, of course, that various changes may be made, within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A quilting frame comprising side members, a lining ply storage roll mounted between the members at the front thereof, a quilt take-up roll also mounted between the said members at the rear thereof, arms pivn otally mounted upon the said side members 'between said rolls, means upon the side members for supporting the said arms in a lowered substantially horizontal position beside the side members, the arms being swingingly adjustable to assume upright positions, means upon the said side members engageable by the arms to limit their movement to such position whereby they may be supported in upright position, and a cover ply storage roll supported between the said arms, the last mentioned means coacting with the arms at a point forwardly of the plane occupied by the forward sides of the cover ply storage and quilt take-up rolls. v

2. A quilting frame comprising side members, a lining ply storage roll mounted between the members at the front thereof, a quilt take-up roll also mounted between the said members at the rear thereof, arms pivotal ly mounted upon the said side members between 'said rolls, means upon the side members for supporting the said arms in a. lowered substantially horizontal position beside the side members, the arms being swingingly adjustable to assume upright positions, means upon the said side members engageable by the arms to limit their movement to such position whereby they may be supported in upright position, and a cover ply storage roll supported between the said arms the last mentioned means coacting with the arms at a point forwardly of the plane occupied by the forward sides of the cover ply storage and quilt take-up rolls the pivots for the said arms being located in a plane above the planes of the aXes of the first mentioned rolls and the cover ply storage roll being so mounted upon the arms thatY its axis will occupy a pivots for the arms being located in a plane spaced above the plane occupied by the axes of the first mentioned roll a distance approximating the thickness of the quilt.

8. In a. quilting frame, the combination with the side members of the frame, of a roll having trunnions journaled in said side members, a ratchet wheel upon one of the trunnions located beside the adjacent side member of the frame, and a resilient pawl having a portion rotatably mounted in the said side member of the frame and having a resilient arm extending from one end thereof beside said side member of the frame and provided with a laterally directed end for coacting with tne teeth of the ratchet wheel and likewise enga ging the adjacent side of the said side member of the frame, an arm extending from the other end of the rotatably mounted portion of the pawl beside the other side of the said side member of-"the frame and having a linger piece engaging the same and held frictionally in contact therewith through the resiliency of the said pawl member.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

Mns. EMMA S. ROOT. 

